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Beacon Academy, an extra year of school between 8th and 9th grades, prepares smart, hard-working and kind urban students for success in independent high schools.
It is the first school of its kind in the country.

Fresh from break, our current Beacon class has gotten back to work. Not only do they have a rigorous few months of schoolwork ahead – deadlines for high school applications are here.

While the road ahead is tough, they are prepared. The first months at Beacon have armed them with the skills and determination they need to power through. As Davida Wright says, “It’s not getting easier, it’s just feeling more normal.”

Davida admits that her attitude wasn’t great at the start of the year. But the supportive, yet tough, nature of her teachers has helped her be open to criticism so she can improve. “Now I want more constructive criticism because I want to become better,” she says.

Jerry Lamothe, one of Davida’s classmates, has also seen some changes in himself over his time at Beacon. In addition to learning the importance of planning, he says he has never felt more serious about his education.

“I knew getting a good education is important, but I never really took the time to think about what I should do to get me to where I want to be in life,” Jerry says. “Beacon changed that.”

Equipped with their new skills and perspectives, Davida and Jerry are charging into their last few months with us. Both have goals of good grades and acceptance into their preferred schools, but each of them also has personal goals with which they know Beacon can help.

For Davida, it’s all about being proud of the time she’s spent here. “I need to make sure I look back and see that I’ve done what I need to do and I’m happy.”

And for Jerry, it’s about becoming a better version of himself. “I hope to become a better person. Not really change who I am. But to know who I am, and to be a kinder person.”

Davida, Jerry, and the rest of the Class of 2017 have high goals for themselves and each other. We know they’ll make us proud.

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Beacon Academy, an extra year of school between 8th and 9th grades, prepares smart, hard-working and kind urban students for success in independent high schools.
It is the first school of its kind in the country.